Blanching machine



May l, l951 F. M. MCBETH BLANCHING MACHINE Cf Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 9, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. M. MCBETH BLANCHING MACHINE ay l, 1951 Filed June 9, 1944 Km. www.

Pfff/14N Mmes TH May l, 1951 F. MT MCBETH BLANCHING MACHINE Filed June 9, 1944 Patented May 1, 1951 BLANCHING MACHINE vFreeman-M;V McBet-h, Harrisburg;Pa;,:assignorto Macbeth @Engineering Corporation, a corpora- `tionaof Pennsylvania Application J-une9, 1944, SerialNo; 539,527

5f, Claims. (Cl. v9,9-443) 'This invention relatestoY the. art i'ofrfoodv processing andis principally concernedwith apparatus for 'conditioning"vegetables orfruits vpreparatory to their cooking ory dehydration.

'A primar-y` object of.` the invention isto .provide an improved apparatus 'for blanchingzvegetables, such as potatoes, carrots and 'the '.like,for`fruits, afterthey havebeen slicedlor-'otherwise cut up, which is .so. designed that such-operationlmay be performed expeditiously and continuously to supply the blanched'materialin a constant ll'owfto a frying or dehydrating'iapparatus.

Another objectv is to provide in such-fanfapparatus means for conveying material` being processed at adjustably variable'levels with respect to the surface of Ya conned body of Ytreating liquid, whereby 'blanching may be 'eiected through immersion or "by the agency'offsteam arising from thesurface of theftreating liquid.

A further object is to provide, in association with atreating liquid container, a materialconveyor having'a major-portion thereof-adjustablewith respect tothe remainder whereby to'dispose said majorportionat the horizontal or-at varying degrees of inclination relative thereto.

A stilll'furtherobjectis to provide ablanching apparatus having a circulatory treating liquid system including means for establishing different levels of the liquid'in'relation to a material'conveyor for selective procurement of immersion or steam blanching.

Other objects of the invention will Vbe apparent tothose skilled in theart. These/includea novel conveyor drive mechanism and" yconveyor construction.

'With the above vobjectsin view, the invention comprises'the novel arrangement, construction, and combination of partshereina'fter described and claimed. It is vto be understood that .the structural. details and. arrangement of Vthe component parts of the embodiment herein disclosed may be varied as desired"withinthescope ofthe invention as claimed, and thatthe illustrated'fdisclosure `is not to be considered-.as being thesonly means by whichthe invention mayfbe'reduced-to practice.

In the accompanying drawings like :reference characters indicate like `parts throughout the several, views.

vFigure l is aside elevation `of'"anapparatus constructed `in accordance With :the'zpresent `invention, partssbeingfbrokenavvay. p

.Figure 2 is .za frontxor:inletfendfviewfthereof.

Figure f3 :is 2.a .top plan @View of 'the .fapparat1.1s..

nFigure iis-arear end view ofthefmotor, ipump,

and transmission assembly.

Figure' is a fragmentary top plan viewfoffthe inlet end portion ofthe treating tank with rcon-l veyor removed. l

Figure "6 is a vertical section substantially o the line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is asection taken on the line 1 -1' As shown, theinvention comprises a blanchingl tank I5 of elongated rectangular form and provided with a sloping bottom I 6 that inclines downwardly from the inlet end I1 to the outlet end I8. The'end plate I8 comprises apartition that forms the front wall of a Washing tank |-9 formed asarearward-prolongation of the blanching tank. The height of the partition isfless than that of the tank side walls 20 and 2| toprovide clearance for a/portion of the material conveyor to be described. v Sediment collecting on the ysloping bottom ,'46 of the tank is discharged from `its low end to a` disposal pipev 22 having a valve control 23. In order to assist discharge of sediment, a transverse spray head Z'llisv disposed at .the rinletend of the tank bottom. This spray head communicates through a pipeconnection 25 with a liquid `supply pipe'ZS whichY leads toa T-coupling 21 that,.in turn, connects with .a riser pipe 28 leading to an upper sprayhead or nozzle 29 disposed -substantially'in'horizontalregister with and above the spray'head .'24 at approximately midway of the .height of `the tank. The. respective .connec- 26. A motor 31 is employed to actuate the pump` which, w-henin operation'with all appropriate valves open, establishes a circulatory systenrfor the body of treating liquid 38 within the tank.

Normally, this circulation is maintained from the upper sprayhead 29 longitudinally through the tank vto theoutlet 32, and as the outlet 32 is lowerthan the inlet spray-head a downwardly inclined-current isfcreated which not only assists in'maintaining material being treated upon theconveyozrpto'fbe described, "but alsoacts topropel sediment downwardly and rearwardly upon the sloping bottom of the tank. A steam coil 39 is disposed longitudinally within the tank adjacent the bottom thereof to provide means for heating the liquid in the tank.

The blanching tank has disposed therein an endless belt conveyor of reticulated or open mesh construction that extends longitudinally from the inlet end to the outlet end of the tank. The conveyor belt extends between side chains 40, preferably of the linked roller type, and is attached thereto by means of cross rods 40a. The upper flights of the chains travel along the foot flanges 4I of angle-iron side bars 42 that connect at their forward ends with a transverse end bar 43 to provide a conveyor frame. At the forward end of the frame slidable bearings 44, equipped with adjusting screws 45, mount conveyor chain sprockets 46, and substantially midway of the frame the side bars carry attached hangers 41 which support and guide the lower flights of the conveyor chains to maintain them substantially in parallel relation to the upper flights and to prevent sagging of'the lower flight of the conveyor into contact with the steam coils 39. The conveyor belt is provided with appropriately spaced, parallel, transverse cleats 48. The conveyor belt, designated generally by the reference character 49, has a major longitudinal forward section A that is capable of bodily movement in a vertical arc in hinged relation to an upwardly and rearwardly inclined rear section B which extends over and rearwardly beyond the partition I8 at the rear end of the blanching tank, to overhang the washing tank I9.

The rear section B of the conveyor trains over side chain sprockets 58 and 5l mounted, respectively, at the forward and rear ends of a fixed frame that is suitably secured in the tank and which has angle-iron side bars 52 with foot flanges 53. The side bars of the xed frame are similar in construction to the side bars 42 of the movable conveyor section A, and constitute longitudinal rearward extensions thereof. As best illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, each side bar 52 of the xed frame has secured rigidly to its forward lower end a horizontally disposed forwardly projecting plate 54 provided with an outward lateral pintle lug 55 engaged in an apertured ear 56 carried as a lateral offset by a plate 51 attached to the movable frame bar 42. By this means the inner or rear end of the movable frame carrying the conveyor section A is hinged to the forward end of the fixed frame carrying the conveyor section B. In order to guide the conveyor chains at the hinge connection between the two frames, the lower forward end of each fixed frame side bar 52 is vertically enlarged to provide a bearing portion 58 for an idler 59 that overrides the side chain.

' The movable frame of the conveyor section A is adjustable along a vertical arc through the medium of a downwardly and rearwardly inclined material distribution plate 60 that is vertically adjustable on the inlet end wall l1 of the blanching tank. This plate is of perforate material and extends transversely for the full width of the conveyor. The lower inner end of the plate is slightly upturned and extends inwardly over and above the forward end of the conveyor, so that material to be treated slides down the distribution plate from a supply source, not shown, and is discharged evenly over and upon the conveyor, At its side edges the plate 60 has depending flanges -6I which are pivotally connected at their lower ends by means 62 to the side portions of the forward end assembly of the movable conveyor frame. As best shown in Figures l, 3 and 6, the upper end of the plate 60 is provided with a pair of upwardly extending, vertically slotted hanger straps 63 which slide upon the adjacent end wall l1 of the tank. Suitable securing means, which may be a nut and bolt assembly 64 carried by brackets on the upper end of the tank end wall I1 and disposed through the vertical slots in the straps 63, enables a vertical adjustment of the distribution plate 6D to raise or lower the forward end of the hinged section A of the conveyor to or from the dotted line position shown in Figure 6.

At one side the blanching tank is provided with a clean-out closure 65 and with a lateral liquid level control chamber 66 opening to the tank interior. The bottom 61 of the chamber determines the low surface level L of liquid in the blanching tank when steam blanching is being carried out. The chamber has an outlet 68 at its bottom in communication with a dis/ charge pipe 59, and an outlet 19 at its top that communicates with an extension of the discharge pipe. A control valve 12 in the outlet 68 establishes either the high level H or the low level L for the treating liquid. The high level is maintained when immersion blanching is carried out.

Material delivered from the rear section B of the conveyor into the liquid contained in the washing tank I9 is carried therefrom by an endless bucket elevator 14. The elevator belt is attached to side chains trained over drive sprockets. Figure 8 illustrates one such sprocket 15 in operative engagement with a chain 16, so arranged that both flights of the chain are positively driven. The sprocket shaft 11 is journalled in a bearing block 18 that is secured between the elevator guides 19 on a bracket 80 fixed to the top of the washing tank. Power is supplied to the drive shaft pulley 8l by a beltv 82 connected to an intermediate drive pulleyassembly 83 mounted on a frame 84 in rear of the washing tank. The assembly 83 is driven from a belt drive 85 leading to the transmission 86 which in turn has a drive connection 81 with the motor 31. has a belt drive 88 in operative connection with the driven sprocket 5| at the rear end of the conveyor.

As shown best in Figure 8, the down night of the elevator chain 16 rides upon its adjacent guide and is held against the guide by the sprocket 15. The up flight of the chain 16 rides over the outer face of its guide 19 and engages the sprocket where it plays through an aperture in` the guide. The chain is trained beneath an exterior guide shoe 89 into positive engagement with the sprocket. By this means the sprocket 15 has a positive drive engagement with both flights of the elevator chain 16.

When the apparatus is employed for immersion blanching, the blanching tank is filled with treating liquid up to the high surface level HV and the movable section A of the conveyor is adjusted to the full line position shown in Figures 1 and 6. The material to be treated is dropped down the distribution plate 6D onto the conveyor belt and is there carried upwardly and rearwardly through the liquid bath until discharged into the washing tank I9 where it is' picked up by the bucket elevator and carried to a point of further treatment, not shown. When The sprocket drive pulley 8| also the apparatus is employed for steam blanching the liquid is brought to the low surface level L and the hinged section A of the conveyor is raised to the horizontal dotted line position shown in Figure 6. The hinge point of the conveyor is so related to the low liquid level as determined by the control chamber outlet 58 that when the conveyor section A is disposed in horizontal position its upper ilight will be entirely out of the liquid. Steam is then generated by raising the temperature of the liquid to the boiling point by means of the steam coils, and the material being processed vis exposed to the steam during its entire extent of travel on the conveyor.

A deflector bale 99 extends substantially horizontally inwardly from the tank end H above the lower spray head 24 so that when this spray head is used to clear sediment from the tank bottom the injected liquid is directed along the sloping tank bottom.

It will be apparent that the speed of travel of the conveyor may be varied to regulate the treating period for material Vbeing processed, and that by appropriate manipulation of the various valves the circulation of the treating liquid through the tank may be adjustably related to the conveyor speed, or may be cut off entirely. Furthermore, by adjusting the hinged section of the conveyor at various heights the duration of immersion may be varied as desired to suit the :nature of the material being processed.

Having thus described the invention, what is l. claimed is:

1. A blanching machine comprising in combination a tank for the reception of a treating liquid, a material conveyor disposed longitudi- :nally within said tank and having a receiving portion movable at its forward end through a vertical arc for adjustment relative to the surface level of liquid in the tank, said conveyor I-having a discharge portion continuous with the Areceiving portion and upwardly and rearwardly iinclined over the rear end of the tank, a washing vitank beneath the rear end of said discharge portion of the conveyor, a material elevator in said washing tank, a closed circulatory system for the tank liquid including a pump, a driving means, and an operative connection between said driving means and said conveyor, elevator, and pump.

2. In a blanching machine, a tank for the reception of treating liquid, a conveyor supporting frame disposed longitudinally within said tank and hinged at its inner end for movement in a vertical plane, an endless belt material conveyor on said frame, means for operating said conveyor, liquid injecting means adjacent the free end of said conveyor and spaced above and below the same, and a horizontal baffle plate extending from a wall of the tank between elements of said injecting means.

3. A blanching machine comprising a tank for the reception of a treating liquid, a material conveyor disposed longitudinally therein and including a fixed portion and a movable portion hinged thereto at one end., a supporting member extending between the other end of said movable conveyor portion and one vertical wall of said tank, means connecting said supporting member to the said other end of said movable conveyor portion, means connecting said supporting member to the said Vertical wall of said tank, one of said connecting means being vertically adjustable whereby said movable conveyor portion may be disposed in a horizontal or inclined position, and means for establishing and maintaining different surface levels for the tank liquid.

4. A blanching machine comprising a tank for the reception of a treating liquid, a material conveyor disposed longitudinally therein and including a fixed portion and a movable portion hinged thereto at one end, a supporting member extending between the other end of said movable conveyor portion and one end wall of said tank, means connecting said supporting member to the said other end of said movable conveyor portion, means connecting said supporting member to the said end wall of said tank for vertical adjustment thereon whereby said movable conveyor portion may be disposed in a horizontal or inclined position, and means for establishing and maintaining different surface levels for the tank liquid.

5. A blanching machine comprising a tank for the reception of a treating liquid, a material conveyor disposed longitudinally therein and including a fixed portion and a movable portion hinged thereto at one end, a material distributing plate extending over and connected to the other end of said movable conveyor portion, means connecting said distributing plate to one end wall of said tank for vertical adjustment thereon whereby said movable conveyor portion may be disposed in a horizontal or inclined position, and means for establishing different surface levels for the tank liquid.

FREEMAN M. MCBETH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,245,380 Peters Nov. 6, 1917 1,294,335 Fluharty Feb. 11, 1919 1,384,311 Follinger July 12, 1921 1,518,759 Sayers Dec. 9, 1924 1,641,112 Brogden Aug. 30, 1927 1,835,799 Meyer Dec. 8, 1931 1,857,730 Lindgren May 10, 1932 1,943,775 Taylor Jan. 16, 1934 2,111,285 Haymie Mar. 15, 1938 2,162,415 Allen June 13, 1939 2,299,658 Smith Oct. 20, 1942 2,355,798- Guthier Aug. 15, 1944 

